Garage Air Circulation

[optim8]

During the winter my Griff spends alot of time sat in the garage. As the temperatures drop the amount of moisture that builds up over the car increases. Fine, I know the bodywork is fine but a car with a damp chassis for 6 months can't be much cope.

As much as I can see the benefits of a Carcoon, I feel this is a little extreme. Surely is it not the case that if I install low wattage fan this will help circulate the air and so reduce the effects.

So my questions are:

1) What do you do (other than take the car out!) to try and over come the winter effects?
2) If anyone has installed a low wattage fan, where did they get it from.

Thanks in advance..

[Mr Sheen]

Try this: -

www.tvrsseries.com/servicing/Layingup.htm

Hope it helps
Andy

[targarama]

Do you have air gaps in the garage door? Mine has a reasonable gap at the top and bottom of both doors (double garage). I thought about sealing them and heating the garage a smidge, but then realised that coming back with a wet car would cause problems due to lack of circulation.

[antonyj]

I run a de-humidfier in the garage, Ok I know with gaps in the structure it is in effect trying to dry the atmosphere, but it helps alot, keeps the garage quite dry.

[optim8]

My garage is pretty old. It has concrete pillers with concrete panels slotted down between the panels. The way the roof is done it actually overhangs the walls and is suspended on a metal frame which creates a small void all around it.

For me I don't want to completely lay the car up (i.e. on axle stands wheels off etc..) as if the weather is good I want to go out. A dehumidifer I think will probably blow up as because of the void in the roof, it will really be trying to dry outside and inside!

Is it not just the case the it's cold still air that causes the condensation, something which a fan would overcome? Every year I go to the Classic Car show at the NEC(not long now!!), and spend ages floating around the Carcoon stands trying to be sold a car sized tent with 3 PC cooling fans stuffed in one end. I just know there must be a cheaper solution.

[AJAX50]

Line the roof and walls with shuttering ply then use a dehumidifer. I've got dehumidified a wood lined garage and the discs don't even go rusty, also tools, bikes etc stay rust free.

[puffsorted2]

optim8 said:

During the winter my Griff spends alot of time sat in the garage. As the temperatures drop the amount of moisture that builds up over the car increases. Fine, I know the bodywork is fine but a car with a damp chassis for 6 months can't be much cope.

As much as I can see the benefits of a Carcoon, I feel this is a little extreme. Surely is it not the case that if I install low wattage fan this will help circulate the air and so reduce the effects.

So my questions are:

1) What do you do (other than take the car out!) to try and over come the winter effects?
2) If anyone has installed a low wattage fan, where did they get it from.

Thanks in advance..

I normally chuck inside the car some of those giant sized Silica Gel packets to soak up any dampness inside. No idea if it works or not but makes me feel better.

My big problem is the garage is rented and I have no power in there

[cln1]

Fortunately my garage is heated but if it wasn't I use a carcoon. I have some friends that use them and they're really good plus I thinkthey have a battery conditioner so your battery's maintained as well.

Colin.

[cossiemetro]

don't seal the garage up to tight otherwise you will not get the natural draft circulating inside mine was terrible then i made it a tad more drafty taking out a few roof infills and its 10 times better

[GreenV8S]

optim8 said:

Is it not just the case the it's cold still air that causes the condensation, something which a fan would overcome?

No, I don't think so. Having damp air circulating is going to have the same effect on the chassis as having still damp air. What you need is something to ensure the air is dry. I guess the most likely reason for it to get damp is water soaking through the walls/floor, or coming in through the roof/walls when it rains, or being brought in with the car. If the only thing coming in/or out of the garage is fresh air, then it would eventually dry out and then stay dry.

[Nigel Lewis]

I have used a carcoon for the past couple of years, and must say, it seems to work a treat.

I always try to run the car each week when ever possible through the winter months, but the car is still left monday to friday in the garage. Prior to the carcoon, the chassis use to sweat quite badly, and if left, mould would start to form on the leather inside the car.
Since using the carcoon, the chassis remains dry and no signs of dampness on the hide in the car.
I am sold on the carcoon system anyway, and it also keeps the dust from settling on the car.

[funkyol]

antonyj said:

I run a de-humidfier in the garage, Ok I know with gaps in the structure it is in effect trying to dry the atmosphere, but it helps alot, keeps the garage quite dry.

Isn't a de-humidifier bad for the oil in the engine though? As far as removing 'all' of the moisture in the air.......?

[yi8tvr]

Nigel Lewis said:

I have used a carcoon for the past couple of years, and must say, it seems to work a treat.

I always try to run the car each week when ever possible through the winter months, but the car is still left monday to friday in the garage. Prior to the carcoon, the chassis use to sweat quite badly, and if left, mould would start to form on the leather inside the car.
Since using the carcoon, the chassis remains dry and no signs of dampness on the hide in the car.
I am sold on the carcoon system anyway, and it also keeps the dust from settling on the car.

Net time you carcoon your car spray some detox into the cabin.

With regards to yhe original post why is a carcoon extreme. They are the ultimate peice of kit for over wintering a car. Mine will go into hibernation after my last track day on the 1st November.

clean and polish it
run it nearly out of fuel
jack the car up on axle stands put the wheels underneath
spray the chassis with wd40
spray the inside with detox
leave the windows open
start her up for a couple of minuites
plug the charger in
zip it up
leave until end of march
when it comes out of hibernation its brand new ready for some track days..

Plus you have not seen it for 4 months so when you do expose it its like a brand new toy..


Of course it all depends on the indivdual. For me its Spring and summer TVR. Autumn and winter Euro box.


As Supergrass would say "you have to step outside the woods and see the trees"

Edited by yi8tvr on Thursday 5th October 19:33

[orgasmicliving!!]

You sure about running it to nearly empty? I have heard it's a good idea to leave the tank full to prevent the inside of the fuel tank from rusting up. And to put fuel stabiliser in to stop the more volatile components of the fuel from evaporating, leaving only sludge behind (necessary only if oyu are not going to use the fuel up in 3 months or more).

[antonyj]

funkyol said:

antonyj said:

I run a de-humidfier in the garage, Ok I know with gaps in the structure it is in effect trying to dry the atmosphere, but it helps alot, keeps the garage quite dry.

Isn't a de-humidifier bad for the oil in the engine though? As far as removing 'all' of the moisture in the air.......?

Never heard that, it would have to be a bllody big unit to affect the oil, never found any signs of oil in the units catch bowl.

Who said it removes all the moisture, I said it helps alot...

[optim8]

So it's looking like a Carcoon is the way to go here. There is actually a few companies out there offering these solutions and I'm not sure which is the best to go for. The Carcoon seems to be the most popular but as it has no structual frame isn't it a real fuss to get the car out of the thing? There is also the Cair-O-Port system which does use a frame. Anyone have preferences over either? Cheers.

[NCE 61]

Also the Airchamber is worth a look at, it also has a frame and has to be easier to use than a Carcoon, epically if you want to use the car on the occasional dry sunny days in the winter.

[Nigel Lewis]

NCE 61 said:

Also the Airchamber is worth a look at, it also has a frame and has to be easier to use than a Carcoon, epically if you want to use the car on the occasional dry sunny days in the winter.

Second that, i had a carcoon and then brought a Airchamber,at the classic car show last year. Means you can still use the car on a regular basis throughout the winter, without all the hassle of putting on and taking off the carcoon. Both work on same principle, but only need to unzip one end and drive the car out of the airchamber.

[victormeldrew]

A dehumidifier is an much easier option than a Carcoon. It would have to be a serious piece of kit to remove "all the moisture", so that's hardly a concern. From what I understand, humidity needs to be below 60% to prevent rusting. I have an Amber Dry dehumidifier which on low costs little to run, yet easily keeps humidity down below 50% (and thats in a 32' x 12' garage). In the same garage is a parts cleaner filled with fairly evaporative solvent, which is unaffected. In any event, I'd welcome something that sucked water out of my oil!

Before I started using the dehumidifier the garage was at 70-80% humidity, paper left in there would go soggy and wrinkly, and my Chim carpets grew mould.

It's a much cheaper, and less hassle, solution than a Carcoon or similar.

I'd suggest it's worth a look, unless you are the type who would buy a 1500 quid kettle lead for your hi-fi.

www.dry-it-out.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=17

Edited by victormeldrew on Friday 6th October 10:43

[puffsorted2]

Nigel Lewis said:

NCE 61 said:

Also the Airchamber is worth a look at, it also has a frame and has to be easier to use than a Carcoon, epically if you want to use the car on the occasional dry sunny days in the winter.

Second that, i had a carcoon and then brought a Airchamber,at the classic car show last year. Means you can still use the car on a regular basis throughout the winter, without all the hassle of putting on and taking off the carcoon. Both work on same principle, but only need to unzip one end and drive the car out of the airchamber.

Do you know if the Airchamber will work off a car battery. The Carcoon can be powered by a seperate battery and should last about a week - so that works great for me without a powered garage. Just change the battery once a week.